382 



SCIENCE 



[N. S., Vol. XL., No. 1028 



Natural Sources of Energy. By A. H. Gibson. 



Figure Y is a map of the world stowing 

 " regions subject to intense solar heat and 

 with slight annual rainfall," including under 

 this description nearly all of the western 

 United States, even the Eocky Mountains of 

 Colorado to their summits, and the coast of 

 Oregon. Figure 8 is a similar map showing 

 " regions suited for the maintenance of vege- 

 table and plant life " (why vegetable and 

 plant?). "Luxuriant vegetation shovsm in 

 black;" a moderate amount in gray, and a 

 minimum in white. The whole of the western 

 United States, except tongue extending from 

 the north through Montana, is pure white! 

 We commend this especially to Californians, 

 who have been under the delusion that their 

 country supported some vegetation. Fig. 11 

 shows, in black, the " principal water powers of 

 the world," and includes, in a large black area, 

 the Eocky Mountains of Colorado and north- 

 ward. How does it happen that this intensely 

 hot region, with very little rain, and conse- 

 quently next to no vegetation, is one of the 

 principal areas where water-power may be 

 obtained ? 

 Suhmerged Forests. By Clement Eeid. 



Based on the brilliant original researches of 

 the author, extending over many years, this 

 discussion of the submerged forests on the 

 coasts of the British Islands is equally fasci- 

 nating to the botanist, geologist and anthro- 

 pologist. It deals almost entirely with British 

 work and phenomena, and has little to say 

 about the labors of the Scandinavians and 

 others in different parts of Europe. Thus, re- 

 garded as a general presentation of the matter, 

 it seems narrow; but we can well forgive this 

 in our appreciation of the intimate knowledge 

 which the author has of his field, permitting 

 him to speak with more assurance than would 

 have been possible had he discussed the sub- 

 merged forests of all Europe. For us in Amer- 

 ica the work carries many suggestions; thus 

 we are surprised at the number of recognizable 

 seeds obtainable from old peat deposits, per- 

 mitting us to gain a fairly accurate knowledge 

 of the herbaceous as well as woody flora of 

 ancient times. 



The Beautiful. By Vernon Lee. 



An original treatment of the subject from, a 

 psychological point of view. This is, perhaps, 

 a place where Bergson's contention that the 

 intellect is not able to understand life strikes 

 one with special force; but the author has no 

 such misgivings, and proceeds to a logical and 

 detailed analysis. 

 The Evolution of New Japan. By J. H. 



Longford. 



The interpretation of Japan is so difficult 

 for an occidental that all books of this sort fall 

 under suspicion; but Professor Longford was 

 British Consul at Nagasaki, is now professor 

 of Japanese in King's College, London, and is 

 well known as a writer of works on Japan, so 

 he has certainly won the right to be heard. 

 The reviewer, having no critical knowledge of 

 the subject whatever, read the little book with 

 great pleasure, and can at least testify that it 

 presents an exceedingly lucid account of the 

 whole matter as the author understands it. 

 There is here and there some evident incon- 

 sistency. Thus on page 3 we read, without 

 qualification, that "the first emperor was 

 Jimmu Tenno, who founded the Empire and 

 ascended the throne in the year 660 B.C."; but 

 on pages 17 and 143 we learn that this Jimmu 

 is a pure myth. On page 81, the British 

 government of 1894 receives severe censure for 

 " sacrificing " the interests of British residents 

 in Japan, but on page 84 we learn that as the 

 result of the treaty thus condemned, trade 

 "more than doubled in its volume," and the 

 anticipated bad results did not occur. 

 The Wanderings of Animals. By H. Gadow. 

 Pearls. By W. J. Dakin. 

 The Earth. By J. H. Poynting. 

 The Fertility of the Soil. By E. J. Eussell. 

 The Atmosphere. By A. J. Berry. 

 The Story of a Loaf of Bread. By T. B. Wood. 

 The Physical Basis of Music. By A. Wood. 

 The Peoples of India. By J. D. Anderson. 

 The Modern Warship. By E. L. Attwood. 

 Naval Warfare. By J. E. Thursfield. 

 The Icelandic Sagas. By W. A. Craigie. 



